Comcast Chief's Compensation Increases 14% as NBC Takeover Is Completed

Comcast Corp. (CMCSA) Chief Executive Officer Brian Roberts received 14 percent more in compensation last year, earning $31.1 million as he led the company’s takeover of NBC Universal.

Roberts earned $2.8 million in base salary, $11.2 million in stock and option awards and $10.9 million in cash bonuses, Comcast said today in a regulatory filing. Comcast also requires Roberts use company aircraft for personal travel for security reasons, which added $195,767 to his compensation.

Comcast, the largest U.S. cable-TV carrier, acquired 51 percent of NBC Universal from General Electric Co. for $13.8 billion in cash and assets to expand in programming. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission approved the deal in January.

Roberts and other executives “successfully managed the many challenges of advancing the NBC Universal transaction from its signing in December 2009 to its closing in January 2011,” Philadelphia-based Comcast said today.

Stephen Burke, Comcast executive vice president and CEO of NBC Universal, made more than Roberts for the second consecutive year, earning $34.7 million.

Comcast rose 49 cents to $25.21 at 4 p.m. New York time in Nasdaq Stock Market trading. The shares have gained 15 percent this year.

To contact the reporter on this story: Alex Sherman in New York at asherman6@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Peter Elstrom at pelstrom@bloomberg.net

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Comcast CEO Brian Roberts

Jonathan Alcorn/Bloomberg

Brian Roberts, chairman and chief executive officer of Comcast Corp.

Brian Roberts, chairman and chief executive officer of Comcast Corp. Photographer: Jonathan Alcorn/Bloomberg

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March 2 (Bloomberg) -- Brian Roberts, chief executive officer of Comcast Corp., talks about the company's growth strategy. Roberts, speaking with Emily Chang and Cory Johnson on Bloomberg Television's "Bloomberg West," also discusses the acquisition of NBC Studios and working with the Obama administration on jobs policy. (Source: Bloomberg)